Open, continuous intake

Thunder Bay Growth Community Improvement Plan

Also known as: Growth CIP · Employment Growth Tax Incentive · EGTI

Thunder Bay's Growth Community Improvement Plan is a city-wide incentive for commercial and industrial projects that add jobs and assessment. It refunds part of the resulting property-tax increase (or pays 80% of that value as a lump sum at final inspection), covers city planning and permit fees up to $50,000 on builds over $5 million, and funds brownfield studies. Apply before spending anything.

Amount: Employment Growth Tax Incentive (EGTI): reimburses part or all of the property-tax increase from an eligible employment project, scaled by a 25-point scorecard. Capital Contribution (CC): a lump sum equal to 80% of the 3 to 5 year EGTI value, paid at final inspection (instead of EGTI). Planning and Building Permit Fees grant: up to 100% of city fees to $50,000 where construction value is over $5,000,000. Brownfield Rehabilitation: up to 25% of study and remediation costs to $50,000.
thunderbay.ca · Last verified Oct 29, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
The PBPF grant may cover up to 100% of eligible fees paid to the City of Thunder Bay to a maximum of $50,000.00 per project and/or property
Instrument: Grant (non-repayable)
Status: Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
Who qualifies: Property owners and developers Businesses
property-owner
business
tenant
Property inside the Growth Community Improvement Project Area (city-wide)
Owner, or an agent or tenant with a signed Owner's Authorization
Costs incurred before the application are not eligible
EGTI and Capital Contribution cannot both be received
Scorecard rewards building permit value from $5,000,000 and 20 or more full-time jobs created or retained, plus CEDC priority-industry and Net-Zero alignment
Brownfield Rehabilitation Grant: property larger than 2 hectares (4.94 acres); no duplicate studies within 10 years; remediation must not have begun
Applicants must disclose all sources of funding
thunderbay.ca · Last verified Oct 29, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Costs incurred prior to the submission of an application will not be considered eligible for financial incentives
Where: Thunder Bay DistrictThis program is limited to one district.
1 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.
Built for: Small business, expansion

How do you apply?

Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.

Optional pre-application meeting with the city's Growth Team
Online application with current tax bill, project proposal and owner's authorization
Scored on the evaluation scorecard (25 points)
EGTI paid yearly after taxes are paid, or Capital Contribution paid at final inspection

thunderbay.ca · Last verified Oct 29, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

You may also wish to book a pre-application meeting with a member of the Growth Team

Common questions

Is the Growth CIP only for downtown?

No. Unlike Thunder Bay's Strategic Core Areas CIP, the Growth CIP is city-wide and aimed at commercial and industrial expansion, redevelopment and new projects.

Can I get both the tax incentive and the lump sum?

No. The Capital Contribution grant is an alternative to the Employment Growth Tax Incentive; applicants receiving one are not eligible for the other.

How is the grant amount decided?

By a 25-point scorecard covering construction value, full-time jobs created or retained, private investment share, community benefits, CEDC priority industries and Net-Zero measures.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

Strategic Core Areas CIP, Downtown & Core Area Improvement Grants Open, continuous intake
same funder (City of Thunder Bay); both for small business, expansion; thunder bay · Up to $25,000
Housing Community Improvement Plan (HCIP) Grants Paused
same funder (City of Thunder Bay); both for small business, expansion; thunder bay · Up to $300,000
GSCIP Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) Programs Open, continuous intake
both for small business, expansion; tax increment, brownfield · Varies; see program
GSCIP Professional Study Grant Program Open, continuous intake
both for small business, expansion; brownfield · Up to $7,500

Notes on this record

Contact: Build Thunder Bay, buildtbay@thunderbay.ca, 807-622-8453. Full terms are in section 6 of the Growth CIP document.

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there: